When examining the space you plan to use the shoe organizer it is super important to consider the dimensions of the space and the dimensions of the shoe organizer. You might have only a small space and therefore only need one organizer. However, you could need more than one but will need to plan accordingly for you to have a system that fits. That will also play a role in the characteristics you search for when buying. For example, if you need one for in under your bed, it is more than likely going to need room to accommodate wheels.

Next, these shoe organizers are available in many different shapes and sizes. Companies make them tall, short, square, tiered, etc. There really is not a shortage of options when it comes to the shapes. For your particular space, it is important to see what will fit best. Do you need a tall and skinny one that probably only holds one shoe per row? On the other hand, is your space wide enough to hold an organizer that might only be 3-4 shelves but wide enough to squeeze 6 plus pairs of shoes per tier.

If you so happen to be a person that wears a larger size of shoe, it is very imperative that you take notice of the depth of these organizers. It really will not be purposeful if your shoes hang off of the edge and fall off of the organizer because your compartment is too small. Make sure when you measure your shoe length you account for around one extra inch for the depth of the organizer compartment or shelf.

The last dimension worth mentioning is the height. This is the height between the two shelves, compartments, racks, etc. If you are looking for a shoe organizer that is going to be tall enough and spacious enough to accommodate tall boots, heels, tall hi-top sneakers, etc, you absolutely must measure the space from the top to the bottom that holds to the shoe.

There are simple shoe organizers that hold just a few pairs of shoes. If you need more, you can get ones that hold up to 50 pairs of shoes. Plus anything in between. However, should you be the ultimate shoe collector, you can get more than one so long as the space you have is adequate. Examining your shoe collection is the best place to start and count how many slots you will need to hold all or almost all of your shoes. This will also be the perfect time to purge your closet of unwanted or damaged shoes.

From there get a shoe count. It is also a good suggestion to break the shoes into categories. Here is how you can determine what type of system will work best.

It goes without saying that now is also a good time to think about expansion in the future for when you do buy more shoes.

Having a clear plan now makes it easier to keep the space cleaned and prepared for more shoes in the future.

You have your new product and then it’s the usually dreaded part of buying something that needs to be put together. Some people have no trouble and can put an item together faster than a track car races a lap. That is an awesome skill to have. They might not even need directions as things just cognitively click for them. Looking at something on paper immediately pops out at them and they can see the pieces broken apart. From there, their brain quickly and efficiently replicates what their brain saw just moments earlier.

On the other hand, there is everyone else. These are the people that fret over trying to assemble something. They are the ones that read the instructions once over before assembling even begins. That is ok too! From the once over, you need time to get your tools and parts organized. Then, it is time to start with step 1. The same steps that took the speed assembler 5 minutes to put together may take other individuals 45 minutes or more. Consumers can get frustrated if something does not come together with ease. Chances are if it is too complicated the piece might never get assembled, sent back, or trashed. That is not beneficial.

What’s more important than the time is the quality once it is put together. Once fully assembled, it is important to have a finished product that is going to withstand the weight and not collapse because a screw was put in incorrectly. We examined the ease of assembly as not everyone has the skills required to quickly and efficiently look at a manual and have it all figured out. If the shoe organizer required too many steps or didn’t have enough information provided regarding assemble, it did not make it to the list.

When consumers research any new product to purchase they are going to be largely concerned with the quality of a product. The same is exactly true for a shoe organizer. Part of the factors that make it a high degree of quality is the sturdiness of the shoe organizer.

Once fully assembled is the shoe holder going to withstand daily use, the weight from numerous pairs of shoes, the seams of the sewn pockets are strong, etc? These are all valid questions that one must ask when researching a product so you can avoid a short lifespan of the organizer. This concern also comes down to the type of organizer. Examining traits for a cloth holder that hangs over the door will be different than the traits that a metal rack system would be examined by.

Cloth- When looking at cloth or fabric organizers we want to examine the materials used to make them. Are they a strong material or one that is known to rip easily. Typically, these type of holders is made of plastic, vinyl, mesh, etc. From there, it is important to observe how the pockets are attached to the main holder. Are the seams strong if they are sewn together? How about if they are glued? Does the glue seem firm when you gently tug on the individual shoe holder? Lastly, how about the pocket itself. Is it made from a thick vinyl or plastic that will keep it from ripping when putting the shoes in and out? Those are all super important questions to ask regarding a cloth shoe organizer. In rating the shoe organizers we put on this list, they are all highly-reviewed for durability.

Metal- In some aspects a shoe organizer that is made from metal or aluminum is easily thought to be more durable than a cloth on. While that may or may not be true, it is important to analyze the metal shoe racks durability based on their own set of questions and standards. For example, the metal, does it seem sturdy? Is it easy to bend? Is it one solid piece from end to end or does it have an adjustable aspect? Even though the adjustable feature is nice, it can sometimes lessen the durability of the bars as they are then two separate pieces instead of one solid one. Lastly, it important to examine the end pieces. This is where the brunt of the stabilization falls. If the end pieces seem flimsy or not put together well, that will, in turn, affect the overall durability.

Plastic- Plastic is usually known as a very durable material. When plastic is used in a shoe organizer, it could be used in an over-the-door model or a floor model. The plastic needs to be strong enough to not rip with repeated use in the hanging version. Also, important to note, concerning the rack type model, making sure the plastic is rigid enough to not bend when the shoes are sat upon it is a huge consideration.

Some of the shoe organizers that are available are a combination of one or more of these materials. Some are metal but have a cloth covering. Others could be mostly plastic but have metal ends. There really is not a “correct” composure for what makes the best shoe organizers. It has to do with your personal needs and what type works for your situation the best. Each material used has its pros and cons. Some of the cons to consider is the fact that racks will take substantially more floor space than an over-the-door model. However, over-the-door models make more noise as the door is constantly moving. Plus the shoes can beat and bang into the door they are on, thus causing wear and tear on your door. A few of the rack style holders have only two bars that make the “surface” for the shoes to rest on. This can be good if you are sticking multiple height shoes in the racks. However, if you are small-footed, you will have to make sure your shoes will fit securely on the two bars and do not fall through as the heel and toe area will be the only portion resting on a platform.

Let’s face it, people have a certain price point in mind when they begin to investigate a certain product, whether it be a new house or a shoe rack organizer. The second facet of this is, they tend to stick closer to budget on small item purchases than much larger items. In this manner, affordability places a huge part in the decision a consumer makes when buying a shoe holder.

Consumers are not looking to spend an enormous amount on free-standing shoe organizers. The price point must be competently related to the cost of a remodel project. If the shoe organizers creep past a certain point, some consumers might be more tempted to remodel their closet to accommodate the shoes versus purchasing a simple shoe organizer or many. Another theory on this, a shoe organizer is deemed a luxury and not a necessity. Therefore, if it gets out of the budgeted range, most people will not buy them. That threshold is important to understand when we ranked our top 10 choices. We kept affordability in mind and a set price range when we started to narrow our choices down.